Rotary electric switch for lady&#39;s handbag



July 24, 1962 o. ZEKENDORF 3,046,366

ROTARY ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR LADYS HANDBAG Filed May 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

OTTO ZEKENDORF ATTORNEYS July 24, 1962 o. ZEKENDORF 3,046,366

ROTARY ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR LADYS HANDBAG Filed May 22, 1961' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

OTTO ZEKENDORF ATTORNEYS United States Patent G 3,046,366 ROTARY ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR LADYS, HANDBAG Otto Zekendorf, 423 E. 7th St., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,823 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-52) The present invention relates to improvements in rotary switches for ladys'handbag and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a rotary switch which can be mounted at the hinge on the frame of a ladys handbag. The rotary switch is small in size and compact in arrangement so as to require little space and it will be inconspicuous when mounted on the frame hinge of the hand-bag. The switch is open when the handbag frame is closed and it will automatically close when the frame is opened. The switch can close an electric circuit from a battery, concealed in the handbag, to any device operated by electricity, such as an electric light, a small radio, etc.

A novel feature of the invention lies in providing the rotary switch with a white dot or other indicating mark that is viewable from outside of the handbag. When the operator places her finger on the white spot and presses, the switch will be closed even while the handbag frame remains closed and the electric circuit will be completed and will operate the electric device carried by the handbag. This permits the lady to actuate the electric device without the necessity of opening the handbag. If a miniature radio is concealed in the handbag, the lady may cause it to operate even while the handbag remains closed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is simple in construction and which is durable and efiicient for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims.

Drawings For a better understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a ladys handbag with my electric rotary switch mounted at one of the hinges of the handbag frame;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the same handbag with the frame opened and the switch closing an electric circuit to a light for illuminating it;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the rotary switch on a large scale and with a wiring diagram connected with the switch and to an electric device such as a neon lamp;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section through the rotary switch and it is taken along the line IV-IV of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are sections taken along the line VV and Vi-VI of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along the line VII-VII of FIGURE 3.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed Description In carrying out my invention, I make use of a ladys handbag indicated generally at A, in FIGURES l and 2. The handbag has a metal frame consisting of two parts B, and C, hinged together at 1, see FIGURE 2. The other hinge for the frame members B, and C, forms a 3,046,366 Patented July 24, 1962 part of rotary electric switch, indicated generally at D, and now to be described in detail.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a longitudinal section through the combined hinge for the frame members B and C, and the rotary electric switch D. The end of the frame member B, has an integral frame ring 2, and the end of the frame member C, has an integral frame ring 3. A bolt E, is passed through the aligned openings in the two frame rings 2 and 3, and constitutes a hinge bolt for these two parts. The various elements making up the electric rotary switch D are mounted on the bolt E, and the elements associated with the frame member B, and the ring 2, will first be described and then the elements associated with the frame member C, and the ring 3, will be described.

The frame B, has a fiber part F, connected thereto, see FIGURE 4, and this part has a disc-shaped portion 4, that bears against the right hand face of the frame ring 2, when looking at this figure. The portion 4 has a central opening through which the bolt E, extends. To the right of the portion 4, I mount a fiber washer G, that has an opening for receiving the bolt E. Then to the right of the fiber washer G, I mount a lead disc H, and this disc is insulated from the bolt E, by a small fiber insulating Washer 5. The right hand face of the lead disc H, carries an arcuate conductor I, preferably made from brass. The inner arcuate edge of the conductor J, is spaced from the bolt E, so as to prevent any electrical connection between these two parts. A face view of the arcuate conductor J, is illustrated in FIGURE 5, and one radial edge of this conductor is bevelled at 6, to make a knife edge for a purpose hereinafter explained. The right hand face of the lead disc H, also carries an arcuate fiber strip K, that is cemented to the lead disc.

The elements associated with the frame member C, and the ring 3, include a fiber part L, connected to the frame C, and this part has a disc-shaped portion '7, that bears against the right hand face of the frame ring 3, when looking at FIGURE 4. The portion 7, has a central opening through which the bolt E, extends. To the left of the frame ring 3, I mount a fiber Washer M, that has an opening for receiving the bolt E. Then to the left of the fiber washer M, I mount a lead disc N, and this disc is insulated from the bolt E, by a small fiber insulating washer 8. The left hand face of the lead disc N, carries an arcuate conductor P, preferably made from brass. The inner arcuate edge of the conductor P, is spaced from the bolt E, so as to prevent any electiioal connection between these two parts. A face view of the arcuate conductor P, is illustrated in FIGURE 6, and one radial edge of this conductor is bevelled at 9, to make a knife edge.

When the frame members B, and C, are in closed position, the arcuate conductors I and P, will be out of contact with each other. However the bevelled edges 6 and 9, will be disposed in partially overlapping position as in FIGURE 7, although normally not contacting with each other. The purpose of this partial overlapping of the bevelled edges 6 and 9, will be described hereinafter. The left hand face of the lead disc N, also carries an arcuate fiber strip Q, that is cemented to the lead disc. When the frame members B, and C, are closed, the arcuate fiber member Q, will contact with the brass arcuate member I, and the arcuate fiber member K, will contact with the brass arcuate member P. When the frame members B, and C, are opened, the brass member I, will immediately be brought into electrical contact with the brass member P, to close an electric circuit presently to be described.

The brass arcuate conductor J, and the arcuate fiber member K, are yieldingly urged toward the brass arcuate conductor P, and the arcuate fiber member Q, by spring washers R and S. The spring washer R, is mounted on the bolt E, and bears against the frame ring 2. The

spring washer R, is insulated from the bolt E, by a small fiber washer 19. A larger fiber washer T, is mounted on the bolt E, and bears against the left hand side of the spring washer R. A metal washer U, is mounted on the bolt E, and is placed to the left of the fiber washer U. Then a nut V, is threaded onto the threaded portion of the bolt E, and bears against the metallic washer U.

The spring washer S has a small fiber washer 11 that insulates it from the bolt E. The spring washer S is interposed between the disc-shaped portion 7 of the fiber connection L to the frame member C, and a fiber washer R, see FIGURE 4. A metal washer X is placed between the fiber washer W and the head 12 of the bolt E. l-i/hen the parts are assembled on the bolt in the manner illus tnated in FIGURE 4, the nut V may be tightened on the bolt E until the spring washers R and S exert the proper compression for causing the arcuate conductor I to be urged toward either the arcuate fiber Q or toward the other arcuate conductor P, this depending upon whether the frame members B and C are in closed or opened position. FIGURES 4 and 7 illustrate the parts of the rotary switch D in position when the frame members B and C are closed.

In FIGURE 3, I show a simple wiring diagram in connection with the rotary switch and this wiring diagram includes a neon light Y that is placed in electrical connection with a source of current Z when the switch D is closed. The wiring diagram also includes a resistance indicated at 13 and a condenser indicated at 14. The electrical circuit forms no part of my present invention because the rotary switch D can connect any number of different electrically operated devices that might be carried in a handbag, such as a small radio, etc. The function of the electric circuit in the wiring diagram of FIGURE 3 will therefore not be described. Suffice it to say that as soon as the frame members B and C are opened, the rotary electric switch D will be closed and will connect the electrically operated device, whatever it might be, in the handbag with the source of electric current which in this instance comprises batteries Z. The source of electric current Z can comprise one or more dry cell batteries which are connected in a series.

A novel feature of the invention lies in the fact that when the handbag is closed, the operator may place her finger against a white dot 15 on the fiber washer W or other type of marking, and when this pressure is applied, the rotary switch D will be closed even though the frame members B and C remain in closed position. It will be noted from FIGURE that the insulating arcuate strip K has one edge 16 that is spaced from the bevelled edge 6 of the arcuate conductor I. It will also be noted from FIGURE 6 that the insulating arcuate member Q has one edge 17 spaced from the bevelled edge 9 of the arcuate conducting strip P. The space between the edge 16 of the arcuate insulating strip K and the bevelled edge 6 of the arcuate conductor J is indicated at 18 in FIGURES 5 and 7. In like manner the space between the edge 17 of the insulating arcuate strip Q and the bevelled edge 9 of the arcuate conductor P is shown at 19 in FIGURES 6 and 7.

When the frame members B and C are closed the bevelled edges 6 and 9 of the arcuate conducting strips I and P respectively, are arranged in slightly overlapping but spaced apart relation to each other. Therefore a pressure on the white dot of the fiber washer W in FIG- URE 7 will move the parts from the fiber washer W to the lead disc N, to the left and will cause the bevelled edge 9 of the arcuate conducting strip P to contact with the bevelled edge 6 of the arcuate conducting strip J and close an electric circuit from the batteries Z to the neon light Y or to any other electrical device that may be disposed in the handbag. The spaces 18 and 19 permit the slight relative movement between the arcuate conducting strips J and P to bring them together so that electrical contact will be made between these strips. As soon as the pressure is released from the white dot 15, the parts will resume their normal positions and the bevelled edge 9 of the arcuate conducting strip P will be moved away from the bevelled edge 6 of the arcuate conductor strip I and therefore the circuit will be opened. The fiber washer W, and the elements between this washer and the lead disc N, will constitute manually controlled means for moving the bevelled edge 9 into contact with the bevelled edge 6 when the washer W is pressed at the white dot 15.

The fiber Washer G, is attached to the fiber portion 4 so that when the frame member 13 is swung into open or closed position, the fiber washer G will rotate with the fiber portion 4. Also the lead washer H is attached to the fiber Washer G to rotate therewith and the brass conductor I and the insulating fiber arcuate member K are carried by the lead washer H and will rotate therewith. In like manner the fiber washer M is fastened to the ring 3 of the frame member C and will rotate therewith when the frame is opened or closed. The lead washer N is secured to the fiber washer M to rotate therewith and the arcuate fiber strip A and the brass arcuate strip P are carried by the lead washer N and will rotate therewith. Therefore when the handbag frame members B and C are opened or closed, there will be relative movement between the brass strips J and P to close the switch when the bag is opened and to open the switch when the bag is closed.

I claim:

1. A rotary electric switch for a ladys handbag and comprising two frame members of the handbag; a bolt constituting a hinge for the frame members; a first electrical conducting washer mounted on the bolt and insulated therefrom; a first arcuate conducting terminal carried by the washer and having a bevelled edge; a first arcuate insulating member mounted on the same face of the conducting washer as the arcuate terminal and having an edge spaced from the bevelled edge; a first insulating means connecting the conducting washer with one of the frame members so that a swinging of this frame memer will rotate the Washer and arcuate conducting terminal; a second electrical conducting washer mounted on the bolt and insulated therefrom; a second arcuate conducting terminal carried by the second washer and facing the first arcuate conducting terminal and having a bevelled edge; a second arcuate insulating member mounted on the same face of the second conducting washer as the second arcuate terminal and having an edge spaced from the bevelled edge of the second arcuate conducting terminal; a second insulating means connecting the second conducting washer with the other frame member so that a swinging of this frame member will rotate the second Washer and second arcuate conducting terminal; said frame members when in closed position causing the first and second arcuate conducting terminals to have their bevelled edges disposed in overlapping relation, the first arcuate insulating member contacting the second arcuate conducting terminal and the second arcuate insulating member contacting the first arcuate conducting terminal to maintain the overlapping bevelled edges in spaced relationship; and manually controlled means for urging a portion of one of the electrical conducting washers toward the other conducting washer so that the bevelled edge of one arcuate conducting terminal will be moved into contact with the bevelled edge of the other arcuate conducting terminal; the space between each bevelled edge and the edge of the associate insulating arcuate member permitting this movement; whereby a contacting of the two bevelled edges constitutes a closing of the switch; the arcuate insulating members moving the bevelled edges out of contact wtih each other as soon as the pressure on the manually controlled means is freed.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1; and in which the two arcuate conducting terminals are so arranged with respect to each other that a swinging of the 5 v frame members into open position will move the arcuate conducting terminals into contact with each other and result in a closing of the switch.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1; and spring means for urging the conducting washers in an axial direction toward each other for causing the arcuate conducting terminals to contact each otherwhen the frame members are open or to contact the opposite insulating arcuate member when the frame members are closed.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1; and in which an electric wire leads from each of the conducting washers, these wires being connectible to a source of current and an electrically operated device carried by the handbag; whereby a closing of the switch will connect the device electrically to the current source for operating the device.

No references cited. 

